Faux tearing technique for a simple thank you

This is my second take on the faux tearing technique for the ILWS challenge.

Recipe

Stamp set: Fresh Cuts

Cardstock: Pink Pirouette, Soft Suede

Ink: Melon Mambo, Early Espresso, Crumb Cake, Soft Suede, Sahara Sand

The card blank is a 4" square of Pink Pirouette, this was matted direct with a layer of Soft Suede. I next tore a piece out of a sticky note large enough to accommodate the sentiment, keeping both pieces of the torn sticky. Using the small sentiment piece of torn sticky as my mask I stamped the main Fresh Cuts image in Melon Mambo on a square of Pink Pirouette (using the stamp-a-ma-jig for placement). I removed the small mask and put the large mask in place over the just stamped image. Using my colour spritzer I spritzed with some Crumb Cake, Soft Suede and Sahara Sand and then added the sentiment over the top in Early Espresso. After removing the large mask, Early Espresso was sponged very lightly around all edges and the layer adhered direct to the card front.

Sara xx

A hand picked bunch of In My Garden thank you cards

I got a nice little bunch of thank you cards going on my production line yesterday using the In My Garden, level 1 hostess set. One of my new years resolution is to make a lot more duplicate cards. That way I'll have more ready for the craft fairs that JJ and I go along to and more sets to give as gifts to my hostesses.

I've already got this resolution underway by colouring 4 of each of these flowers. There's a full set here for you to see and I'll finish assembling the other 9 today.

Recipe (for all)

Stamp sets: In My Garden, Circle Circus, Fresh Cuts

Cardstock: Basic Black, Bold Brights (to fit flower), Whisper White

Ink: Stazon Black, Bold Brights (to match cardstock), Markers (to colour flowers)

Gingham Ribbon: Black

Punches: 1-3/4" Circle, 1-3/8" Circle, 1-1/4" Circle, Word Window, Corner Rounder

Recipe (Snowdrop version)

Cardstock: Green Galore

Ink: Green Galore

Markers: Glorious Green, Green Galore, Gable Green

Recipe (Poppy version)

Cardstock: Orchid Opulence

Ink: Orchid Opulence

Markers: Glorious Green, Green Galore, Orchid Opulence, Lovely Lilac

Recipe (Rose version)

Cardstock: Pink Passion

Ink: Pink Passion

Markers: Glorious Green, Green Galore, Pink Passion, Pixie Pink

I also resolve to start making my christmas cards much earlier this year. It was last minute crafting for christmas this year because I'd sold all my cards at the craft fair - don't want to get caught out like that again.

Are you making any New Years resolutions?

Sara xx

A fluttery butterfly for the Stamp With Us recipe challenge

And it's Sunday again already - where does the week go, lol. So, today's challenge over at Stamp With Us is a recipe. We can use:

• 3 patterned papers
• 3 brads
• 3 coloured cards
• 3 different stamps

Wow - that's a toughie. Well I decided to use what is sure to become a favourite stamp set of mine - the brand new Flight of the Butterfly:

Isn't this just a gorgeous set? And I got the butterfly punch to match as well.

Recipe

Stamp sets: Flight of the Butterfly, Fresh Cuts

Cardstock: Cameo Coral, Green Galore, Blush Blossom

Ink: Green Galore, Tempting Turquoise

DSP: Kaleidoscope

Brads: Earth Elements

Punches: Butterfly

I just used one of the "Flight" butterfly stamps, one of the sentiments from the same set (minus the "unknown" on the end so that it fits the layout better) and the leaf from Fresh Cuts = 3 different stamps. I cut the flowers from one sheet of Kaleidoscope, punched the butterfly from another sheet (getting the circles centred within the wings) and cut a strip from another sheet as my top border = 3 papers. 3 Earth Elements brads were used to complete the flowers and I used only 3 coloured cards as shown in the recipe. So, nothing more or less than the recipe allows.

Don't forget that today is the first day of the Stamp With Us online class. It's not too late to join if you haven't signed up yet. Classes are great fun and great value, I can't wait to see the projects we get this time.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend.

Sara xx

SWU sketch challenge and sneak peek 7

Welcome to another Stamp With Us challenge. This week it's a sketch:

Now I almost always use stamps and technically I still have here (for the sentiment) but I thought I'd push a little outside my comfort zone and I've used a rub-on for my main image:

Recipe

Stamp set: Fresh Cuts

Cardstock: So Saffron, More Mustard

DSP: Haiku

Ink: Chocolate Chip

Rub-ons: Hidden Garden Blossoms

Other: Pretties Kit, Crafters toolkit

Non-SU: Cuttlebug embossing folder

I used the groove of my paper cutter and my bone folder to create the embossed square around the main image. The Haiku DSP is only available until Wednesday 30 September (but we have some fantastic new papers arriving in the 2009-10 catalogue on Thursday).

This weekend's a bit of a whirlwind for me. This afternoon I'm off to Cardiff for a week's training so poor DH is left at the ranch looking after Bess on his own. Yesterday was our wedding anniversary so I'm glad I was still at home for that. Today's sneak peek is the anniversary card that I made for him:

I'm feeling quite smug actually. I finished the card on Thursday evening, over a day ahead of schedule. Usually he's doing well if I make it on the day, lol.

Yesterday I was also out for a while delivering a workshop to a lovely bunch of ladies who already meet regularly for a crafting session and donate the money left out of the room hire kitty to the Air Ambulance Service. As usual my workshop overran and we had to rush the make and take a little. The ladies were pretty impressed with the quality of the punches and the DSP's and scrapping kits particularly. Scandinavian Season went down a storm especially with the different looks you can give it with the Dazzling Diamonds. The wheel guide for the Stampin' Around wheels even convinced some of them they'd be able to stamp in a straight line. Hmm, wonder why I overran ...

Looking forward to seeing you again soon ladies.

Please hop along and see what my fellow DT members have created with this week's challenge. Right now I'm off to go and check out any of your entries for last week's challenge that I didn't get to yet.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend.

Sara xx

A photo wallet of my little staffie Bess

I'm hoping to make some blank Christmas photo wallets for the craft market at Barnsley on the 16th September. As I haven't made one before I thought I'd have a trial run by making one to show my little puppy dog Bess.

It was a great way to use up some colours that are sometimes a little bright for cardmaking. They suit her personality and pick up the bright green of Dad's lawn and the turquoise of the toy she destroyed LOL (see photos further down).

Recipe

Stamp sets: Frames with a Flourish, Garden Whimsy, Fresh Cuts, One of a Kind

Textured Cardstock: Green Galore, Gable Green, Tempting Turquoise

Plain Cardstock: Gable Green, Tempting Turquoise, Whisper White

DSP: Rainbow Sherbet

Ink: Gable Green, Tempting Turquoise

Punches: Scallop Circle, Scallop Edge, 1-3/8" Circle, Corner Rounder

The design is from Splitcoaststampers here. I've added my photos of Bess and now just need to add a little journaling to complete the Wallet.

I'm really pleased with how this turned out and it's so less daunting than a full scrapbook so hope to make a few more of these.

Thanks for stopping by.

Sara xx

A soft summer birthday card for my Mum

As I promised yesterday, here's a break from Christmas. This is the card I made for my Mum's birthday last weekend. We had a lovely girlie day out in Lincoln on the Friday with our traditional picnic breakfast of Bucks Fizz and croissants on the train, a meander around the shops and then lunch at the Pie Shop in Lincoln (very tasty). Sunday, my brother, SIL and DH went round to Mum and Dad's and we enjoyed an al fresco buffet lunch out in the sun. So it was a long, leisurely family weekend together - lovely!

Now to the card - I always aim to make my close family cards that bit more special and often a little bit larger too. This design is a tri-shutter card taken from the Splitcoaststampers Try a New Technique Forum. It needs 12" long card so I broke into my stash of textured 12" x 12" cardstock - very luxurious.

Recipe

Stamp sets: Soft Summer, Fresh Cuts

Textured Cardstock: So Saffron, Barely Banana

Plain Cardstock: Apricot Appeal, Very Vanilla

DSP: Tea Party

Ink: Mellow Moss, SU Markers

Punch: Boho Blossoms

Other: Dazzling Diamonds

Non-SU: Nesties, Cuttlebug folder, Diamonte letters, computer printed verse

The vine was stamped direct to the card with Mellow Moss and the blossoms were punched, shaped and attached with glue dots. All other elements were matted and layered as you can see from the photos. The small space to the left of the letter U was used to write a personal message to Mum.

Have a great bank holiday weekend everyone ... mmm, more crafting time!

Sara xx

A tough recipe challenge for SWU

This week's challenge for Stamp With Us is a bit of a toughie. You're allowed:

1 x patterned paper

1 x coloured card

1 x flower

3 x brads

I really thought I was going to struggle with it but then once I'd chosen my paper, that pointed me to my coloured card. That combo sent me to the little bird stamp from Fun and Fast Notes (because I'd be using chocolate and saffron to colour it). When I'd done that it looked a little bit like a window and so I decided to add the scallop along the top like a little curtain. So in actual fact it came together quite quickly just from choosing the DSP.

Recipe

Stamp Sets: Fun & Fast Notes, Fresh Cuts

Cardstock: Chocolate Chip, Whisper White

Ink: Chocolate Chip, Always Artichoke, Regal Rose

DSP: Tea & Crumpets

Brads: So Saffron, Rhinestone yellow

Punch: Scallop Edge

Pretties Kit: Small flower

The bird was coloured with markers direct to stamp (leaving out the flower). I then used my matching SU watercolours to paint the bird and leaf. The small flower from the Pretties Kit was "coloured in" using a Regal Rose marker and left to dry a little while before adding to the stamped image with a Rhinestone brad.

Good luck with your own entries to the challenge. I look forward to seeing what you can create with such a limited recipe. Please stop by the rest of the DT blogs to see their versions. Some of them have added a little to the recipe (where is ribbon mentioned?) which I think is cheating LOL, but has made for some great cards.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend.

Sara xx

A recipe challenge using roses for Stamp With Us

I should have posted this yesterday but I was still in Harrogate at the Crime Writers Festival. It's been a brilliant weekend. On Saturday evening we had Lee Child (of the Jack Reacher novels) speaking and yesterday it was the creators of the Wire (DH's favourite TV series).

Anyway back now to real life. The challenge set at Stamp With Us this week is to use:

2 patterned papers

1 ribbon

1 piece of hardware

This was my take on the challenge:

Recipe

Stamp sets: A Rose is a Rose, Fresh Cuts

Cardstock: So Saffron, Almost Amethyst, Whisper White

DSP: Tea Party

Ink: Almost Amethyst, Lavender Lace, Certainly Celery, Mellow Moss

Narrow Grosgrain Ribbon: Certainly Celery

Other: Hodgepodge, Crafter's Toolkit

Non-SU: Nesties

The roses and leaves use two step stamping which works best with a stamp-a-ma-jig to get the positioning spot on. The larger surface area stamps are stamped first (with Almost Amethyst or Certainly Celery depending on whether flower or leaf), then the detail stamp is used over the top (with Lavender Lace or Mellow Moss). I used the Fresh Cuts set just for the sentiment, which fits in the oval hodgepodge perfectly.

For those of you who like to play along you'll be pleased and relieved to know that Mr Linky appears to be working again (which should also make it easier for me to get to look at all your creations).

Have fun.

Sara xx

A fishy story for this weeks children themed challenge

It's Sunday so it must be the Stamp With Us challenge. This week the theme is children's birthdays and so it was the perfect excuse to break out my new Just Beachy stamp set and make a real fun card. Never mind the little kids, this big kid enjoyed this one. The card is based on the Gel (Water) Card over at Splitcoaststampers.

Recipe

Stamp sets: Just Beachy, Fresh Cuts

Cardstock: Basic Gray, Yoyo Yellow, Bashful Blue, Whisper White

Ink: Black Stazon, Old Olive

SU Markers: Assorted

Other: Silver Brads, ziplock bag Sticky Strip comes in

Non-SU: Nesties, Anti-bacterial Hand Wash

I created the porthole apertures using the nesties and cut the same aperture from the Basic Gray (cut from a larger circle) and the Yoyo Yellow (yellow submarine?). The brads were then added to the grey before sticking on top of the yellow card mat so that they wouldn't puncture the gel bag. With the aperture cut I could then mark in pencil on the Bashful Blue card, the area that my picture would need to fit. I stamped the fish onto Whisper White card, colouring them and cutting out. Using the leafy spray from the Fresh Cuts set, I stamped with Old Olive directly onto the Bashful Blue card and then arranged my fish, sticking them in place with Tombow. I didn't stamp one of the fish very well (his tail was faint) so I just placed him off to one side (upper purple fish) where he wouldn't be fully in the picture.

Instead of using hairgel I used anti-bacterial hand wash for the "water". This has the advantage that if children play with the card and burst or puncture the bag, the contents just need rubbing into their hands to disappear. It's possible that you may get better bubbles with hairgel but I'm happy with the result. By making the card a large square one, I was able to use the bag that my Sticky Strip comes in to hold the gel (nothing's wasted).

Once filled this was taped to the back of the aperture mat, placed over the blue mat and added to the front of the card.

Hope you have as much fun making your card for this challenge. Don't forget that by entering the challenge you'll be in with a chance of winning a free on-line class!

Sara xx

A trio of thank you cards using Fresh Cuts

I'm very briefly back to thank you cards today. I needed three of them so rather than designing three different ones I've applied the same design using three different colourways. This also had the advantage of making the crafting quicker as you get into a flow with the different elements.

Recipe

Stamp set: Fresh Cuts

Cardstock: Real Red/Yoyo Yellow/Pink Passion, Basic Black, Whisper White

Ink: Versamark, Basic Black

Stampin' Write Markers: Real Red/Yoyo Yellow/Pink Passion

Other: Black EP, Clear EP

Punches: Large Oval, Scallop Oval

The large square image was stamped with Versamark and heat embossed with black powder. After colouring the flowers with a matching marker I matted the stamped image onto Basic Black card. The vine was stamped direct to the base card with Versamark and heat embossed with clear powder. Thank you was simply stamped, punched and matted.

Sara xx

A thank you card for friends at work

I need a few thank you cards this week. I'm in the process of moving jobs (for my day job that is, not my Stampin' Up! job) and various of my colleagues have bought me leaving gifts. They're such a great bunch, I'm glad I'm not moving far and can still keep in touch with them. It's a good excuse for making more cards anyway.

It seems ages since I last played along with Kristina Werner's Colour Inspiration Challenge. We don't have baja/aqua over here but it looks to me like a shade in the Ski Slope papers, so I used that. Her colours this week are these:

and I combined them with the sketch challenge over at Splitcoaststampers (sorry it's a bit diddy):

Here's the card I made:

Recipe

Stamp sets: Summer by the Sea, Fresh Cuts

Cardstock: So Saffron, More Mustard, Sahara Sand, Whisper White

DSP: Ski Slope

Ink: More Mustard

Other: Cuttlebug embossing folder

It's pretty straightforward - just stamping, embossing and matting.

While I'm on the subject of giving thanks, I'd also like to thank my friend Andrea for nominating me for an award. Andrea's over in Germany but you don't need to be able to understand German to appreciate her cards. She did a beautiful variation of the same colour challenge that I've used above. As I already have this award I'm not going to pass it on this time but many thanks Andrea.

Thanks for stopping by.

Sara xx